Telicity and mode of merge in L2 acquisition of resultatives

Abstract

ABSTRACT Resultative constructions show a wide range of cross-linguistic variation, which may pose nontrivial challenges to L2 learners. This study investigates how syntactic and semantic differences between L1 and L2 affect L2 acquisition of resultatives. In particular, we investigate how L1-Korean learners project the syntax and semantics of L2-English resultative constructions. Two different experiments are presented. The first is a comprehension test that employs an acceptability judgment task and an elicited choice task, and the second is a production test using an elicited writing task. Our experimental results consistently show that Korean learners project English resultatives with adjunct structures and interpret them as atelic events, in sharp contrast to native speakers of English. This finding is in line with previous studies in demonstrating that L1 syntax plays a crucial role in projecting L2 syntax. More importantly, this study provides novel evidence that L1 semantics (i.e., telicity) crucially influences L2 acquisition, in tandem with (but over and above) L1 syntax. The study’s results imply that a proper theory of L2 acquisition of resultatives must consider not only syntactic transfer effects but also subtle semantic differences between L1 and L2.